Smart Bets web extra: Fruition

According to Pastor Tim, Fruition, from Portland, Ore., “absolutely blew up the Acadia stage.” Not exactly sure what that means, though a listen to their live set from last year’s NW String Summit suggests some pretty serious musical prowess, married to some pretty serious hooks.

The band is Jay Cobb Anderson (lead guitar/vocals) and Keith Simon (bass) who got their start as buskers. They added Kellen Asebroek (guitar) and Mimi Naja (mandolin/vocals). The quartet recorded their 2008 debut, Hawthorne Hoedown in just one day. Nat Keefe of Hot Buttered Rum produced Fruition’s 2009 self-titled album and soon after, drummer Tyler Thompson rounded out the collective.

Through a successful Kickstarter campaign, the band raised more that $20,000 which allowed them to raise the bar with their new album, Just One of Them Nights, released earlier this summer. It was recorded at Old School Studios in Casper, Calif. Press for that record says, “The first featured single from the album, ‘Mountain Annie, is poised to become an Americana classic. The song’s steady gait and memorable melody hook audiences on first listen while Anderson’s lyrics address longing for a lover who is no longer present. On Kellen’s ‘Blue Light,’ the band ventures into electric rock ‘n’ roll territory and quickly transitions into a traditional country rhythm without missing a beat. ‘Blue Light’ features exuberant solos from Jay on guitar and Mimi on mandolin offering fans a taste of what’s in store for fans at the band’s live shows.”

Fruition has collaborated with Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, Danny Barnes, ALO, Elephant Revival and The Head and The Heart. They’ll open for Greensky Bluegrass on Thursday, Sept. 26 at The Grey Eagle. 9 p.m., $18/$20.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.